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Technology
The goals of the Technology Department are:
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to instill in students a sense
of ethics and an appreciation for the uses of computer technology; |
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to encourage critical thinking and reasoning
through the use of the computer; |
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to provide a variety of hardware and software
avenues for students to express themselves creatively; |
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to recognize students’ integrity and individuality,
to respect differences in learning rates and styles. |
The technology curriculum in the Upper School is elective
and subject specific, ranging from courses in digital imaging and
interactive media to progrmming and video production. As the long-range
plan for technology continues to evolve over time, the curriculum
will also change and expand to take advantage of new resources.
Technology Skills Review [660] (first quarter;
.25 credit; 1 session per cycle)
This pass-fail course
will meet once per cycle for the first quarter of the year and
is strongly
recommended to all new-to-LRA Upper School students. This course
will review basic technology skills needed to be successful as
an Upper School student. Topics covered will include network
architecture at Lake Ridge, our e-mail system, word processing,
spreadsheets and graphs, presentation software, basic digital
camera operation, fundamentals of web page design and information
literacy.
This course will continue to
be offered each subsequent quarter, open to any Upper School
student who feels he/she
could benefit
from it.
Digital Media
I - Imaging [667] (first semester;
.5 credit; 5 sessions per cycle)
In this course students explore the fundamentals of digital imaging
through extensive use of digital cameras and scanners. Significant
time is devoted to the exploration of software programs such
as Adobe Photoshop, the analysis and manipulation of digital
image file formats, and the role of digital imaging in today’s
society. Student performance is primarily assessed through a
series of independent projects. All work will be considered for
publication on the Lake Ridge Intranet and Web Site. Open to
grades 9-12. This course satisfies half a graduation requirement
in Fine Arts.
Digital Media II - Graphic Design [66x] (second
semester; .5 credit; 5 sessions per cycle)
In this course students explore the fundamentals of classical design
layout, production, and creative use of digitized images, as well
as conceptual modeling in cyberspace. Students will use programs
such as Adobe Illustrator and Bryce 3D. Student performance is primarily
assessed through a series of independent projects. All work will
be considered for publication on the Lake Ridge Intranet and Web
Site. Open to grades 9-12. This course satisfies half a graduation
requirement in Fine Arts.
Digital Media III - Presentation
[661] (first
semester; .5 credit; 5 sessions per cycle)
This course will be focused on website design using Macromedia Dreamweaver MX,
a web development application. Since student performance is primarily assessed
through a series of independent projects, other types of presentations may be
studied using programs such as Adobe PageMaker, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Topics
covered will include basic web page creation, working with text and graphics,
and creating effective computer presentations. All work will be considered for
publication on the Lake Ridge Intranet and Web Site. Open to grades 9-12. This
course satisfies half a graduation requirement in Fine Arts.
Digital Media IV - Sound and Motion
[66x] (second
semester; .5 credit; 5 sessions per cycle) In
this course students will explore the fundamentals of digital
sound and animated computer graphics. Emphasis will be
placed on strategies for integrating digital sound and
motion into other forms of digital media. Students will
learn to record and process audio in a digital environment
through the use of programs such as Adobe Audition. Additionally,
students will discover how to combine digital audio, motion
and graphics using programs such as Macromedia Flash. Topics
such as multitrack recording, file formats (mp3, wav),
sound mixing, soundtracks, voice-overs, audio CD creation,
Flash animations, and Quicktime movies will be covered.
(No knowledge
of Flash required.) Open to grades 9-12. This course
satisfies half a graduation requirement in Fine Arts.
Digital Photography I [655] (semester;
1/2 credit, 5 sessions per cycle)
This is an introductory photography
course. In the process of understanding images and making critical
choices based on design elements and photo techniques, students
will use digital cameras supplied by the school. Beginning with
studies in black and white composed for thematic impact, students
will progress to utilizing the multiple mega-pixel 2.1 colors
available with digital processing. Adobe Photoshop will be used
as the fundamental software. Students will participate in a review
of the work and techniques of historically recognized photographers
for comparative study. The strengths of film photography will
be studied, but the course will highlight the advantages offered
by the latest technology in digital image capture. A brief history
of photography from its earliest methods to the present day will
be integrated in to the project curriculum.
Prerequisite:
Completion of Digital Imaging and Graphic Design. Open to 9th
graders with
permission of department head. This course satisfies half a
graduation requirement in Fine Arts. Not
offered in 2004-2005.
Digital Photography II [657] (semester, 1/2 credit; 5 sessions
per cycle)
This course is designed to enable and
encourage individual work in photography. A portfolio is required
and individual needs, investigations,
and directions are nurtured. For those needing more direction an
individualized curriculum is planned between the instructor and
student. Quality, originality, proficiency, and time accountability
are key elements in determining the gradeStudents are required to
display their work on a quarterly basis. Prerequisite: Completion
of Digital Photography I. This course satisfies half a graduation
requirement in Fine Arts. Not offered in 2004-2005.
Electronic Painting - (semester; 1/2
credit; 5 sessions per cycle)
Using electronic media, such as PhotoShop
or Illustrator and traditional easel painting applications, such
as easels, canvas,
acrylic paint, and brushes do a sequential overview of American
20th and 21st century painting styles and synthesize the best
of both. For example, do a figurative derived abstract expressionistic
action painting using a digital photo manipulated with software
printed on canvas (Epson) stretch it, then rework the entire surface
using acrylic paint and gesture strokes to finish the work. This
could combine collage, photorealisim, hard edge abstraction, reductionism,
new realism, and beyond. Imagine life sized figurative works. This
course satisfies half a graduation requirement in Fine Arts. Open
to grades 9 - 12.
Advanced Digital Projects - Out of the
Technology Toy Box (first [669] and/or second semester;
1/2 credit per semester; 5 sessions per cycle; may be taken for
two semesters).
This course is project-oriented as students
utilize various software and hardware tools in the creation of
a highly
complex project of their choosing. Projects may be chosen from
a wide variety of technologies including, but not limited to,
Digital Imaging, CADD, 3-D Animation and Web Design. Available
applications include Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Macromedia
Dreamweaver and Flash, Bryce 3D and Poser, as well as others.
All work will be considered for publication on the Lake Ridge
Intranet and Web Site. Prerequisite: Completion of two semesters
of Digital Media or Digital Photography or
permission of the
instructor. Open to grades 10-12. This course satisfies half
a graduation requirement in Fine Arts.
| Introduction to
Programming [664] (semester; 1/2
credit; 5 sessions per cycle) |
|
This course will introduce students to the basics
of computer programming and will teach them the fundamental building
blocks of designing
and creating nearly-bug-free, easy-to-maintain computer programs.
Using C++, students will learn to design, code, and test programs
to ensure that they work well. Along the way, students will be introduced
to various diagrammatic and testing techniques, and they will become
familiar with the commands and syntax of C++. This course
is not designed to prepare students for the AP exam in the C++ programming
language. Open to grades 9-12.
Beginning Video Production [681] (full
year; 1 credit; 5 sessions per cycle)
This course is designed to be an introductory video production course.
The class will study and then create different types of video productions.
Non-fiction forms such as news reports and documentaries are emphasized.
One of the goals of the course is that students become more educated
consumers of mass media, develop a more critical eye when viewing
mass media, and learn how to apply this knowledge when producing
a video that communicates in different ways. Students can expect
to do extensive work at school outside of class time.
This course satisfies a graduation requirement
in Fine Arts.
Advanced Video Production [682] (full year;
1 credit; 5 sessions per cycle)
This course is designed for students with previously demonstrated
skills in single camera (or film-style) video production. The curriculum
is largely organized around the many different aspects of fiction
production such as narrative videos, commercials, and music videos.
Emphasis is on the process of video production and not exclusively
on a final product. Good script writing and story-boarding are held
to be as important as shooting film footage and/or studio editing.
Students can expect to do extensive work at school outside of class
time.
Prerequisites: Completion of a full
year of Beginning Video Production and permission of the instructor.
Open to grades 10-12. This course satisfies a graduation requirement
in Fine Arts. Not offered in 2004-2005.
Desktop Publishing
(first [255]
and/or second [256]
semester;
.5 credit per semester; 6 sessions per cycle)
This course offers students the opportunity to become actively involved
in their learning as they produce several school publications. Students
learn various desktop publishing skills including beginning and
advanced Adobe PageMaker to produce projects in various formats
ranging from the three-page foldout to newspaper to the yearbook.
In addition, they will learn journalistic skills such as how to
develop a theme, research, interview, write engagingly and design
layouts to enhance the content of the publications. Students will
serve as the core of the yearbook staff, as well as editors of a
student literary magazine and other publications. Open to students in grades 9-12. This course
does not count toward the graduation requirement in English.
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August 23, 2004
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